Lismore honours Fay Ross after 23 years as Club Captain

In a brief and uncluttered ceremony on Saturday 16 November, Lismore Croquet Club Captain Fay Ross handed over the Watch to Captain-Elect Deborah Matten after 23 years on duty. It was described as a very Fay thing: no fanfares or speeches, just the essentials and then on with the day.

Fay Ross, President of Lismore Croquet Club in 2003.

The handover came on a club trophy day marked by good fun and good croquet, qualities Fay had built into the character of the club. Her 23 years covered major changes in the game, including the rise of Golf Croquet, Ricochet and changing membership patterns. The club also dealt with floods, storms and vandalism, recovering through its own efforts and the spirit Fay fostered.

Lismore Croquet Club 2001 Christmas Party, with Ada Somerville at the head of the table and Fay Ross near the front.

Lismore Croquet Club after the 2022 flood damage.

Fay’s roles included Club President, Club Secretary and Club Captain, as well as a brief term as Northern Rivers Croquet Association Secretary. On the lawns she qualified as an ACA Coach and Examining Referee, arranged district coaching and training for players and referees, and became a low-handicap threat in all three codes.

Lismore Croquet Club in 2011.

Lismore Croquet Club in October 2019.

Many club and district events were hosted under Fay’s leadership, supported by Bruce Ross, Doris Green and Julie Spencer, as well as the members who scored, refereed, scheduled, made tea and cleaned up. Her leadership came from seeing what mattered, not wasting time on the irrelevant, and giving quiet encouragement and advice after games.

Deborah Matten with Fay Ross.

Deborah Matten now takes over as Club Captain with the loyal support of the members.

Lismore Croquet Club Friendship Day in 2023, photo by L. Perry-Pollard.

By Jim Yeo, Lismore. From the Croquet Newsletter, January/February 2025, pages 25-29.